Dachshund Adoption

What do you need to know before you adopt a Dachshund? We asked the experts!

Dachshunds are fun, curious dogs that make loving and loyal family pets. Their iconic long bodies can be prone to back issues, so jumping from furniture and the use of stairs should be discouraged. Sometimes referred to as stubborn, these hunting dogs can be quite strong-willed. Patience may be required for housetraining. Due to their size, shape and personality, Dachshunds are often best-suited for homes with children over the age of 12.

These are some of the basics I tell adopters when they come to our dog rescue when thinking about getting a "wiener dog" for the first time:

Hunting dogs like Dachshunds were not well suited for apartments. They were bred to run and hunt badgers and wolverines, so we never adopt them to children under age 7. Try to limit their prey in the household including birds, ferrets, hamsters, cats or anything that runs.

Doing your research before adopting is important. Dachshunds are prone to back issues and if they are too fat they could run into those problems much sooner. Not all Dachshunds will develop IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) but we have noticed many folks are surprised about this, since they never did any research before they bought a cute Dachshund puppy.

Please be aware that Dachshunds were bred to hunt in packs or alone. That "or alone" part means they are way too smart for their owners. They may be difficult to housetrain, and need a strong human leader to train them. This is a very happy go lucky, playful opinionated breed of dogs. If folks expect them to obey them 24/7 they might want to find another breed. We are very lucky the Dachshunds allow us to live in their homes.

Dachshunds are very funny dogs who need people with a toy budget (and, preferably, lots of toys with squeakers).

Because the Dachshund was bred to hunt things underground they love dirt. Do not be concerned if they dig holes in your yard because they is exactly what they were bred to do.

Dachshunds that do not have a job will keep themselves entertained, if you get our meaning, so be prepared to adopt a very needy child and keep ahead of them or they can be destructive, willful and noisy. We keep our dogs working so they are way too tired to be naughty when inside.

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More about the Dachshund

Thinking about adopting a Dachshund puppy? Here are three reasons to adopt an adult instead:

1. You have kids.

Like most people, you’ve probably heard time and again that if you have kids, you should adopt a Dachshund puppy (or, gasp! find a Dachshund puppy for sale). The rationale is that an adult shelter dog is an unknown quantity, so buying or adopting a Dachshund puppy is safer. Actually, the opposite is closer to the truth. Puppies are not usually a great choice with kids; they have very limited control over their biting/mouthing impulses, and when you mix that with lots of energy and unbelievably sharp little teeth, it’s a recipe for your small fry to be in tears. Puppies are tiny chewing machines and can destroy a favorite stuffed animal or security blanket in short order. Adult dogs, on the other hand, are generally calmer, and their personalities are already fully developed and on display. When you meet an adult dog, you can see how they are with kids and with other animals. This takes the guesswork out of wondering how a puppy will turn out as a full-grown dog.

2. You value your possessions.

Puppies teethe. They have a biological need to chew, they want to play constantly, and they can’t discriminate between appropriate chew toys and, say, your favorite pair of Manolos. Puppies eventually can be trained out of this behavior, of course, and there are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking, an adult Dachshund (or any adult dog) is much less likely to shred your drapes like coleslaw or function as a “helpful” canine document shredder.

3. You work, or otherwise leave the house.

Pop quiz: how often does a two-month-old puppy need to be taken out to do his business during the day? A) every six hours; B) every eight hours; or C) every two hours?

If you answered B, or even A, you’re an eternal optimist! The correct answer, though, is C: every two hours. When you’re housetraining a puppy, the general rule of thumb is that they can hold their bladder one hour for each month they’ve been alive (up to a max of about eight to ten hours). So a three-month-old Dachshund puppy needs to go outside every three hours, a four-month-old needs to go every four hours, and so on. If you’re retired, or you work from home, or you’re taking the puppy to work with you or to a doggy daycare (make sure your puppy is up-to-date on all vaccines before considering that last option), great! But if you’re planning on leaving your dog alone during your workday, you’ll definitely want to adopt a full-grown dog, ideally from a Dachshund rescue that can help you find the right dog for your lifestyle.

Let’s bust these myths about adopting a Dachshund

Time to get real: when we ask people what reservations they have about Dachshund adoption, we hear the same things over and over again. If you’re operating under any of these mistaken beliefs, you just might be missing out on meeting the best friend you’ll ever have. So it’s time for us to set the record straight:

You CAN find purebred Dachshunds for adoption in an animal shelter or rescue group.

Dachshunds and Dachshund puppies for adoption are NOT in any way inferior to or different from those for sale.

The dogs in the shelter are NOT there because they’re bad dogs.

If you want a puppy, you DON’T have to buy a Dachshund puppy. Dachshund puppies ARE available for adoption.

If you have children, adopting a dog is likely the SAFEST option.

Here’s the truth: you absolutely can find a Dachshund, even a Dachshund puppy, for adoption in an animal shelter or rescue group. And they don’t end up there because they’re bad dogs. In fact, often the only difference between the dog in the shelter and the one on your couch is a bit of bad luck. Think about it: let’s say you buy a Dachshund puppy for sale by a breeder. Your new dog is great; you immediately enroll the two of you in obedience classes, and soon your best pal is housebroken and well trained. But what would happen to your wonderful Dachshund if, tragically, something happened to you? What if he escaped from your home and ran away? Your best pal would very likely end up in an animal shelter. The lucky person who adopts your Dachshund would be getting a great dog! Animal shelters are filled with wonderful, healthy, well-behaved dogs who have been in homes before, but whose owners have fallen on hard times. Many of them are housebroken and trained. Dachshund rescue organizations often care for their adoptable dogs in foster homes, which means their foster families will be able to tell you if the Dachshund you want to adopt is good with other animals or kids, and if he or she is housebroken and knows any basic commands. As you can see, adopting from a rescue organization is likely the very safest way for people with children to add a new Dachshund to their family!

Dachshund Rescue Organizations

Below you'll find many Dachshund focused rescue organizations. This is not a complete list! If you are a Dachshund focused rescue and would like to be included, please sign up for an Adopt-a-Pet.com account here, then submit your request using the Contact Us link after you login to your Adopt-a-Pet.com rescue or shelter account. Thank you!

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